Thermometer



Feb. 7, 1933. F J, AD 1,896,503

THERMOMETER Filed June 29, 1929 1N VEN TOR.

ATTORNZY Patented Feb. 7, 19 33 I assess FRANK J. ADDIS, or ozoNnrARK, new YORK rnnntroianrnn Application filed. June 29, 1929. 's' iarno. 374,365.

This invention relates to thermometers and particularly to devices of this class commonly known as medical thermometers used by doctors, nurses and others; and the object of the invention is to provide one end portion of a thermometerof this class. with an enlarged angular head formed of the material employed in constructing the thermometer to provide a finger piece producing a firmer I: grip of the hand upon the thermometer, also serving to prevent the rolling of the thermometer when placed on a table or other .support, as well as preventin'g'breakage to the thermometer in placing or dropping the same on a hard surface, and further facilitating the reading of the thermometer when held in the hand or placed on a support; and with this and other objects in view,,the in- A vention consists in a device of the class and for the purpose specified, which is simple in construction, efi'icient in use, and which is constructed in accordance with the method hereinafter more fully described and claimed. r The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification of which the accompanying drawing forms a part in which-the separate parts of my improvement are desig nated by suitable reference characters in each.

of the views and in which: Fig. 1 is a side View of a thermometer prior to the formation of my improved head there- Fig. 2 is a detail view showing the method of forming said head.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the thermometer with one form of head arranged thereon.

4c is a transverse section on the line 11 of Fig. 3; and,

Fig. 5 is an end view of a thermometer such as shown in Fig. 3 showing a modification.

In Fig. 1 of the drawing, I have shown a mometer, the scale markings 'being'of the usual or conventional form. Beyond the end 14a, the thermometertube 10 has an extension 16 which is adapted to be fashioned to form my improved head construction. In Fig. 2 of the drawing, I have shown a die'or mold; blow 17 having-a rectangularmold chamber 18' formed therein. In the process offormin'g the head 19on'the upper end of'the thermometer after the same has 3 been completely formed "as disclosed in Fig.

1 ofthe drawing, I apply a flame'to theend portion 16 to soften the glass sufficiently so that the insertion of said end 16 into the chamber 18of the die 17 will cause theglass to 'fiowfllaterally to fill said chamber and conform with the, cross sectional contour thereof, which in the construction shown in Fi si3 and lfwill be square; Injthis-connecti'on, it'will be understood 7Q thatsufficient material is provided on the end 16,0fthe thermometertube to form the head outwardly of the end 1% of the bore of the thermometer so as not to interfere therewith. In forming the head 19, it is pre- 75 ferred' that one flat side 19a of said head be arranged at'right angles to the pointed reading edge'10a' of the tube 10, whereas the opposite'sid'e' 19b of-the head bearranged in I alinementwith" the rounded back 10b of the thermometer tube, thebeveled scale sides 100 of the'tube converging to the edge10a and arranged-'uponthe two "other opposed sides of the-square head 19, By this arrangement,

the.square side 19?) may be placedupon" one I finger "of the hand, andtwo other fingers, for

elxample, the thumb and indexfinger, may

be arranged upon' opposite; side faces of v the head to support. the thermometer with the pointed edge 10 directedupwardly, facili Q9 tating the reading thereof. In like man- I her, the placement of lthethermometer upon a table or'othersupport with the side/19b of the head, resting thereon,--will facilitate the readingof the thermometengz' I 9.5

It'will also be "understoodsthat by, providing the rectangular head, thethermometer may be firmly gripped between-'the-fingers of a hand in the operationlof shaking the mercury down prior;to.:taking altemp'erature 1 without danger of displacement of the thermometer from the hand.

It will also be apparent that the head will preventor obviate to a large degree the breaking or cracking of the tube in the careless placement or dropping of the sameupon a hard surface, especially if dropped in a horizontal plane, it being understood that the blow Will be taken up betweenthe head and an area of the thermometer adjacent the bulb end thereof, all of which features add to the merit and utility of the device, and increase the strength and durability thereof.

At this time, it will also be appar nt that heads of other cross sectional contour may be. employed as long as relatively flat surfaces are provided, which will prevent the roll-. ingof a thermometer when placed up na supporting surface.

It will also be seen upon a. consideration of Fig- 3 7 e d a ing that in forming the head -1;9,the inner surface of said head wil be e essed; or curved igh ly a e n at 22 by vir e of the r ss. ec ona e tour of the therm m t r ube. her s th outer ce 2 of Said he d w l b a o substantially so;

As Seen, in F gthe dra g, he square a 2 m r e h 19 may ha arrang e te fa her o a et ero the lphabet r o er a acter su he letter; A? designated; at 26 on the head 24. 'E e haracter m y e f rmed in h m l ing operation by suitably forming the bot tom wall of the mold chamber. The references or othercharacters-may be used to identi-fy themanufacturerof the thermometer tube, a distributoror agent, or may identify the owner of the thermometer. In other cases, theserneans-of identifications may be used for thepurpose of accurately identifying temperaturetaken from. a patient, especially in. hospitals where large numbers of thermome er re mpl yedeed. emperatur s of the thermometer, and the other sides terminating'in. a front reading edge arranged longitudinally of thethermometer, of anfenlarged. rectangular head having flat side walls, one: of said flat walls being arranged parallel, tothe back of the thermometer Y to my invention I have signed my name this 28th day ofJune, 1929.

v FRANK J..ADD1S.

- tak n. r m var s pat nt for e ekingby 

